The Rivers State House of Assembly has rejected four out of nine commissioner nominees submitted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The decision was taken during plenary on Monday, where five nominees were confirmed as commissioner-designates.
Those confirmed include Mr. Tonye Belgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward-Hart.
However, Prof. Datonye Dennis Alasia, Mrs. Charity Deemua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Barr. Otonye T.K.D. Amachree were rejected.
Lawmakers gave a variety of reasons for the rejection, including a record of poor performance, missing documents, and controversies.
Prof. Alasia was declined for poor performance.
Mrs. Deemua failed to present her tax clearance.
Williams was accused of misleading the public about Assembly activities.
Amachree faced over 11 petitions from Kalabari communities regarding disputes.
Upholding Standards in Appointments
The Assembly said the decision was necessary to maintain integrity and competence in the state executive council.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule announced that the names of the five cleared nominees would be forwarded to Governor Fubara for appointment.
The Assembly adjourned plenary to March 17, 2026.
Governor Fubara had earlier dissolved the state executive council on February 12, 2026.
The dissolution came three days after a reconciliatory meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
The meeting involved Governor Fubara, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, and other stakeholders from Rivers State.
The rejection of nominees adds another layer to the political apprehension in Rivers State.
Lawmakers insist that only individuals with competence and integrity should be part of the executive council.
In Nigeria, where governors are considered the political Czars of their states, rejection of Fubara’s nominees indicates that all is still not well between the governor and the legislature, and by extension, his erstwhile estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike.
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